Dish insert for a dishwasher

ABSTRACT

A dish insert for a dishwasher includes a plurality of first tines disposed one behind the other on a first holding strut. Also included is a plurality of second tines disposed one behind the other on a rotatably mounted second holding strut so that the second tines are pivotable relative to the first tines and the first and second tines are alignable alternately one behind the other in a row and configured to receive dishes therebetween.

Priority is claimed to German patent application DE 10 2005 044 264.1,filed Sep. 15, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

The present invention relates generally to a dish insert for adishwasher, for example a dish insert to be arranged in a dish rack, andspecifically to a dish insert having a plurality of upright tinesarranged in at least one row between which dishes can be placed.

BACKGROUND

World patent application WO 00/49935 A1 and German utility model DE 20104 114 U1, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein, describedish racks which have several rows of upright tines on the bottom. Here,the individual tines are mounted on a shared axis and can be pivoted asa unit. This makes it possible to either place dishes between the tinesin the dish rack or else to create more space so that pans or otherlarger objects can be placed into the dish rack without hindrance. Adrawback of such a dish rack is that only rigid rows of tines areprovided to hold the dishes, so that dishes that are somewhat deeper canno longer be placed between the tines. Precisely soup plates or pastaplates and the like can have a depth that exceeds the distance betweentwo tines, as a result of which they cannot be held between them.

European patent application EP 0 797 949 A2 describes another dish rackthat has several rows of tines on the bottom that are likewise pivotablymounted. In addition, different types of tines are provided, some ofwhich are longer and are placed at a greater distance from each other.However, this dish rack also entails the problem that the rows of tinesare rigidly arranged and cannot be flexibly adapted by the user to thedishes in question.

Japanese patent application JP 10286214 A describes a dish insert inwhich two opposite tines and a crosswise rod that serves to connect themare mounted so that they can slide along two lengthwise rods. As aresult, the distances between two adjacent units consisting of the tinesacross from each other and the crosswise rod can be changed. Since inmost cases dishes of a uniform size are placed into the dish insert, ifdishes having a greater depth are to be accommodated, every other unitwould have to be slid individually. This is time-consuming andcomplicated to do.

SUMMARY

Consequently, it is an object of the present invention to provide a dishrack which users can individually adapt to the dishes in question withjust a few manipulations, thus allowing a flexible loading of thedishwasher.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a dish insert for adishwasher. The dish insert includes a plurality of first tines disposedone behind the other on a first holding strut; and a plurality of secondtines disposed one behind the other on a rotatably mounted secondholding strut so that the second tines are pivotable relative to thefirst tines and the first and second tines are alignable alternately onebehind the other in a row and configured to receive dishes therebetween.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a dish insert fora dishwasher. The dish insert includes a plurality of first tinesdisposed one behind the other on a first holding strut; and a pluralityof second tines disposed one behind the other on a second holding strut,the second holding strut defining a second longitudinal axis and beingmovable relative to the first holding strut in a direction of the secondlongitudinal axis. In a first position of the second holding strut thefirst and second tines are alignable alternately one behind the otherevenly spaced in a row at a first distance between adjacent tines of therow. In a second position of the second holding strut the first andsecond tines are alignable alternately one behind the other forming aplurality of tine units evenly spaced from each other in the row at asecond distance between adjacent tine units, each tine unit including arespective tine of the first tines and a respective tine of the secondtines, the second distance being greater than the first distance. In thefirst position, the tines are configured to receive first dishestherebetween, and, in the second position, the tine units are configuredto receive second dishes therebetween.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in greater detail on the basis of anembodiment making reference to the accompanying drawings. The followingis shown:

FIG. 1 a dish rack without a dish insert;

FIG. 2 a dish rack with a dish insert;

FIG. 3 a dish insert;

FIG. 4 an exploded view of the dish insert from FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 a perspective view of the dish insert from FIG. 1 with tines thathave been pushed together,

FIG. 6 a perspective view of the dish insert from FIG. 1 with tines thathave been flipped down,

FIG. 7 a perspective view of a dish insert with tines that have beenpartially flipped down.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to the invention, the distance between adjacent tines arrangedin a row can be varied so that the dish insert can be individuallyadapted to the dishes in question; for instance, the distance betweenadjacent tines can be increased if deeper dishes are to be placed intothe dish insert. Conversely, the tines can be arranged at a smallerdistance, so that the volume is used particularly effectively. Thispossibility of varying the distance between adjacent tines allows anoptimized space distribution of the dish rack. Here, the tines of onerow are arranged on at least two rod-shaped carriers, at least one ofwhich is rotatably mounted, as a result of which the group of tinesarranged on this carrier can be pivoted relative to the tines arrangedon the other carrier(s). This facilitates the handling since severaldistances can be changed simultaneously with one single manipulation.

Equally simple handling can be achieved in that the upright tines of onerow are arranged on at least two holding struts, at least one of whichcan be moved in the direction of its longitudinal axis relative to theother strut, so that at least two tines lie close to each other to forma unit, and the distance between the units consisting of at least twotines is greater than in a position in which all of the tines standupright individually at equal distances.

The upright tines can also be removed completely in order to allow themost flexible possible configuration of the dish rack so that the it canaccommodate pans and other objects in cases where the tines would be inthe way. In an advantageous manner, this can be done in that thecarriers associated with the tines of one row are arranged together in apivotably mounted holding device, so that pivoting the holding devicecauses all of the carriers arranged in it to turn at the same time, thuspivoting all the tines of one row. Here, two spaced rows of tines can beprovided that are at approximately the same distance from each other asthe length of the tines, so that when the tines are in the downwardpivoted position, they create a bottom flat surface for dishes and pans.Moreover, locking means can be provided with which the tines can belocked in the upright position.

A dish rack 1 depicted in simplified form in FIG. 1, especially a lowerrack for a household dishwasher, is fitted with a permanently installedplate holder 2 for dessert plates as well as for flat, large and smallplates or soup plates of the standard set of dishes to be loaded intothe dishwasher. The dish rack 1 includes struts 6 and rack frame 7. Inaddition to the plate holder 2, a free rack surface 3 is provided forpurposes of accommodating large items such as pans, lids and the like.

The plate holder consists of two rows 4 running parallel to each other,each having a plurality of upright tines 5 at a distance from eachother, which can support dishes placed between them. Optionally, thetines 5 of the plate holder 2 that is permanently installed in the dishrack 1 can be configured so that they can be flipped down in thegenerally known manner. If necessary, the free rack surface 3 can alsoaccommodate a glassware insert (not shown here) or can be employed toaccommodate additional plates. In order to allow the latter, a dishinsert 10 with two rows 11 of tines can be placed into the free racksurface 3. FIG. 2 shows the separate dish insert 10 installed in thedish rack 1, with the two rows 11 of tines flipped down. A fasteningbracket 15 serves to affix the dish insert 10 inside the dish rack 1.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a dish insert 10 as a single unit in which, forexample, dishes (not shown here) can be accommodated. The dish insert 10comprises a base 12 made up of two lengthwise oriented support struts13, two guide struts 14 arranged crosswise thereto, and a fasteningbracket 15. These parts are welded to each other. The support struts 13have an extension on one side that is bent to form latching arms 16. Theguide struts 14 have holding eyelets 17 on both ends. The fasteningbracket 15 serves to affix the dish insert 10 inside the dish rack 1, asdepicted in FIG. 2. For this purpose, both arms 18 of the fasteningbracket 15 fastened to the support struts 13 are bent to form holdingcatches 19 that engage underneath one strut 6 of the dish rack 1; theupper end of the bracket 15 is configured so as to be springy and itrests on the rack frame 7 via two indentations 20.

Since the two rows 11 of tines and the way they are mounted on the baseare the same, their description below is restricted to one single row.In each case, half 21.1 of the tines 21 of one row are fastened to afirst holding strut 22—shown on the left-hand side in FIG. 3 and at thebottom in FIG. 4—while the second half 21.2 is fastened to a secondholding strut 23—shown on the right-hand side in FIG. 3 and at the topin FIG. 4. The tines on each holding strut are a distance D from eachother. The tines 21 are fastened to the struts 22 and 23 in such a waythat the tines 21.1 of the first strut 22 are disposed on the left sideof the strut while the tines 21.2 of the second strut 23 are disposed onthe right of the strut. As a result, when the two struts are joined inthe position shown in FIG. 3, one row of struts is created in whichtines 21.1 of the first strut 22 and tines 21.2 of the second strut 23are arranged alternately one behind the other and the individual tinesare at a distance d from each other, whereby d is half the size of D.One end of the second strut 23 has a crank-like curved section 24. Incontrast, this end of the first strut 22 has a shorter tine 21.3 whilethe other end has an eyelet 25. A clip 26 made of plastic is placed ontothe shorter tine 21.3, said clip also being affixed by a fasteningeyelet 27 to the first holding strut 22. The clip 26 serves to latchwith the latching arm 16 by means of an indentation 30 in the clip (seeFIG. 6), thus locking the tines 21 in the upright position, as shown inFIG. 5. Secondly, a holder 28 having a channel with an oblong crosssection in its interior is shaped onto the lower area of the clip 26.

The two struts 22 and 23 are fastened to the base 12 in such a way thatthe first holding strut 22 is pivotably mounted in the holding eyelets17 of the guide strut 14. The second holding strut 23 with itscrank-like curved section 24 is inserted into the channel of the holder28 on one side and into the eyelet 25 on the other side. As a result,this strut 23 is mounted so that it can slide and so that it can rotate,together with the clip and the first strut 22, over the holder 28 andover the curved section 24. Since the second strut 23 is mounted so thatit can slide, it can be slid into the position shown in FIG. 5, in whichtwo adjacent tines lie close to each other to form a unit 21.4, and thedistance between the units 21.4 amounts to approximately the dimension Dand is thus greater than the distance d between the tines 21 when thetines are in a position where all of the tines project upwardsindividually at equal distances d (see FIG. 3 or FIG. 6). In theembodiment shown, two holding struts 22 and 23 are used for each row 11of tines, that is to say, every other tine can be slid. It is likewiseconceivable to select an arrangement consisting of three or more holdingstruts per row, with which greater distances between the units can thenbe created. By the same token, the use of only one or else three or morerows 11 of tines is also possible.

FIG. 6 shows both rows 11 of tines in the flipped-down state. For thispurpose, the ends 29 of the clips 26 are pressed down, so that theirindentations 30 are disengaged from the latching arms 16. Then the clips26 are pivoted to the side, as a result of which the holder 28 movesalong and rotates the two holding struts 22 and 23 via short tine 21.3and crank-like curved section 24, respectively. In this process, all ofthe tines 21 are laid on their side. As shown in FIG. 6, the distancebetween the rows 11 of tines is slightly greater than the length of thetines 21. Therefore, the tines 21 can be flipped down all the way to thesupport struts 13, thus forming a flat surface on which pans and otherlarge items can be accommodated without any loss of space.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment in which one of the two holding struts 31 and32 can be turned independently of the other. This makes it possible forthe tines 21.5 fastened to this strut 31 to pivot away, thus enlargingthe distance between the upright tines 21.6 from d to D.

1. A dish insert for a dishwasher, comprising: a plurality of firsttines disposed one behind the other on a first holding strut; and aplurality of second tines disposed one behind the other on a rotatablymounted second holding strut so that the second tines are pivotablerelative to the first tines and the first and second tines are alignablealternately one behind the other in a row and configured to receivedishes therebetween.
 2. The dish insert as recited in claim 1 whereinthe first and second holding struts are configured to be disposed in adish rack of the dishwasher.
 3. The dish insert as recited in claim 1wherein the first holding strut is rotatably mounted so that the firsttines are pivotable relative to the second tines.
 4. A dish insert for adishwasher, comprising: a plurality of first tines disposed one behindthe other on a first holding strut; and a plurality of second tinesdisposed one behind the other on a second holding strut, the secondholding strut defining a second longitudinal axis and being movablerelative to the first holding strut in a direction of the secondlongitudinal axis so that in a first position of the second holdingstrut the first and second tines are alignable alternately one behindthe other evenly spaced in a row at a first distance between adjacenttines of the row, and in a second position of the second holding strutthe first and second tines are alignable alternately one behind theother forming a plurality of tine units evenly spaced from each other inthe row at a second distance between adjacent tine units, each tine unitincluding a respective tine of the first tines and a respective tine ofthe second tines, the second distance being greater than the firstdistance; wherein, in the first position, the tines are configured toreceive first dishes therebetween, and, in the second position, the tineunits are configured to receive second dishes therebetween.
 5. The dishinsert as recited in claim 2 wherein the first and second holding strutsare configured to be disposed in a dish rack of the dishwasher.
 6. Thedish insert as recited in claim 2 wherein the first and second tinesstand upright in the first and second positions.
 7. The dish insert asrecited in claim 2 further comprising a pivotably mounted holdingdevice, wherein the first holding strut defines a first longitudinalaxis, and wherein the first and second holding struts are operativelyconnected to the pivotably mounted holding device so that a pivoting ofthe holding device causes the first and second holding struts to rotateat a same time respectively about the first and second longitudinal axesso as to pivot the first and second tines at the same time.
 8. The dishinsert as recited in claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of thirdtines disposed one behind the other on a third holding strut; and aplurality of fourth tines disposed one behind the other on a rotatablymounted fourth holding strut so that the fourth tines are pivotablerelative to the third tines and the third and fourth tines are alignablealternately one behind the other in a second row and configured toreceive dishes therebetween; wherein a distance between the first andsecond rows is approximately the same as a length of a tine of thefourth tines.
 9. The dish insert as recited in claim 7 furthercomprising: a plurality of third tines disposed one behind the other ona third holding strut; and a plurality of fourth tines disposed onebehind the other on a rotatably mounted fourth holding strut so that thefourth tines are pivotable relative to the third tines and the third andfourth tines are alignable alternately one behind the other in a secondrow and configured to receive dishes therebetween; wherein a distancebetween the first and second rows is approximately the same as a lengthof a tine of the fourth tines.
 10. The dish insert as recited in claim 1further comprising a locking device configured to lock at least one ofthe first tines and the second tines in an upright position.
 11. Thedish insert as recited in claim 7 further comprising a locking deviceconfigured to lock at least one of the first tines and the second tinesin an upright position.
 12. The dish insert as recited in claim 8further comprising a locking device configured to lock at least one ofthe first tines and the second tines in an upright position.
 13. Thedish insert as recited in claim 9 further comprising a locking deviceconfigured to lock at least one of the first tines and the second tinesin an upright position.
 14. The dish insert as recited in claim 4wherein in the second position of the second holding strut therespective first and second tines of each respective tine unit aredisposed against each other.
 15. The dish insert as recited in claim 4wherein in the second position of the second holding strut therespective first and second tines of each respective tine unit aredisposed with a space between each other.
 16. The dish insert as recitedin claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of third tines disposed onebehind the other on a third holding strut; and a plurality of fourthtines disposed one behind the other on a rotatably mounted fourthholding strut so that the fourth tines are pivotable relative to thethird tines and the third and fourth tines are alignable alternately onebehind the other in a second row and configured to receive the dishestherebetween.
 17. The dish insert as recited in claim 1 furthercomprising: a plurality of third tines disposed one behind the other ona third holding strut; and a plurality of fourth tines disposed onebehind the other on fourth holding strut, the fourth holding strutdefining a fourth longitudinal axis and being movable relative to thethird holding strut in a direction of the fourth longitudinal axis sothat in a third position of the fourth holding strut the third andfourth tines are alignable alternately one behind the other evenlyspaced in a second row at a third distance between adjacent tines of thesecond row, and in a fourth position of the fourth holding strut thethird and fourth tines are alignable alternately one behind the otherforming a plurality of second tine units evenly spaced from each otherin the second row at fourth distance between adjacent second tine units,each second tine unit including a respective tine of the third tines anda respective tine of the fourth tines, the fourth distance being greaterthan the third distance; wherein, in the third position, the tines areconfigured to receive third dishes therebetween, and, in the fourthposition, the second tine units are configured to receive fourth dishestherebetween.